Israeli forces shoot Palestinian with rubber bullet to the head during clashes

Jan. 1, 2017 8:57 P.M. (Updated: Jan. 2, 2017 1:04 P.M.)

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces shot a young Palestinian man in the head with a rubber-coated steel bullet on Sunday evening during clashes in the village of Hizma in the occupied West Bank Jerusalem district.

Locals told Ma'an that clashes broke out after Israeli troops stormed the village, with local youth hurling stones at the Israeli soldiers, who fired rubber-coated steel bullets and “showered the village’s alleys” with tear gas.

An ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent Service evacuated the young man to the Ramallah Governmental Hospital. The Paramedics who evacuated the young man confirmed to Ma’an that he was in a stable condition and his injury was not life-threatening.

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.

Israeli forces have come under harsh criticism in recent months for what rights groups have deemed as “excessive force” against protesters and people who did not pose an immediate danger or threat at the time.